Hospitality business ideas you can start for up to $20,000
32 ideas
These 32 hospitality ideas suit people who want to welcome guests, host events or run stays without taking on a full restaurant lease. Some use space you already have, such as a farm stay in a spare room or cottage or paddock camping on your land.
Small-scale catering equipment hire from home
Hire out urns, chafing dishes, tables and chairs to party hosts and caterers from a garage or shed.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Holiday stay in your granny flat or spare unit
Furnish a self-contained unit at your property and rent it to holidaymakers by the night.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Serviced apartment in a leased unit
Lease a furnished flat or house with the owner's written consent and rent it to business travellers and visitors.
- A$5k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Online boat tour booking agency
Sell local boat trips online for skippers and tour boats, and earn a commission on each booking.
- A$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Online
Multi-day trek and tour guide
Run guided overnight and multi-day hikes with a full season of trips, selling packaged treks to visitors and groups.
- A$4k-20k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Non-smoking granny flat or studio stay
Rent a granny flat, studio or spare room on your property to holiday guests who want a smoke-free stay.
- A$2k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Farm or paddock motorhome stopover
Turn spare land into a simple overnight stop for motorhomes, with a few basic sites and a friendly welcome.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Balloon flight booking agent
Sell hot-air balloon flights and gift vouchers online, working with licensed local operators.
- A$1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Spare-room bed and breakfast
Host travellers in a spare room or two of your own home and serve them a home-cooked breakfast.
- A$1k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based holiday cabin letting manager
Manage a handful of local holiday cabins from home: list them, handle bookings and guests, and take a commission.
- A$2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Farm paddock camping
Open a paddock on your farm to campers who pay per night for a simple, no-frills bush or farm stay.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Holiday apartment in a property you already have
Furnish a spare apartment, granny flat or unit and rent it to holidaymakers by the night.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Whale watching tours on a chartered boat
Sell whale watching trips run on a licensed vessel you charter, without buying your own boat.
- A$5k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Bed and breakfast from your own home
Rent spare rooms in your own home to travellers and serve a simple breakfast.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Farm stay with tours included
Host guests overnight in a spare room or cottage and show them working farm life.
- A$3k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Pop-up tea room and high tea
Run a pop-up tea room on weekends in hired halls, gardens or markets without a long lease.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
One furnished short-stay apartment
Furnish one apartment and rent it by the night or week with cleaning and linen included.
- A$4k-18k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Murder mystery dinner nights at local venues
Run interactive dinner shows in pubs, clubs and restaurants, with the venue providing the food and you providing the entertainment.
- A$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Paddock camping on your land
Turn a spare paddock or bush block into a simple campsite for tents, camper trailers and caravans.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Pop-up bartending and cocktail courses
Run short hands-on bartending courses in partner bars on quiet nights, with no premises of your own.
- A$1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up queer bar nights
Run regular queer-friendly bar nights inside an existing licensed venue to build a crowd before opening your own bar.
- A$1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Oxygen cocktail pop-up stall
Serve novelty oxygen-foam drinks from a small stall at markets, festivals and private events.
- A$4k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up wine bar nights
Run a wine bar for a night at markets, galleries and venues, without leasing your own space.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up cat cafe sessions
Run pop-up cat cafe days in hired venues with a rescue group, testing demand before committing to a lease.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
About these ideas
Others are lighter and more mobile, like a pop-up tea room and high tea or a weekly salsa night in a local bar or pub. Before choosing, work out what you can offer now: a property, a skill, or simply time and good organisation. Then check your likely running costs, how seasonal demand might be, and what insurance, council approvals or food and alcohol rules could apply where you live. Start with the idea that needs the least new spending to test.
More ideas
- Farm stay in a spare room or cottage
- New venue opening and set-up consultant
- Portable escape room for events
- Weekly salsa night in a local bar or pub
- Weekly karaoke nights at a local venue
- Independent rail travel specialist
- Pop-up lesbian and queer women's bar night
- Pop-up LGBTQ+ bar nights
Questions
What can I realistically start in hospitality with up to $20,000?
Ideas that use an asset you already have or avoid a fixed premises tend to fit best, such as pop-ups, event nights, or letting a spare room or paddock. Compare each idea's startup list against your budget, including a buffer for insurance and marketing.
Do I need council approval to run guest stays or events?
Often there are things to check. Short-term stays, camping, food service and events may involve council planning rules, zoning, food business registration, or liquor licensing. Requirements vary by state and local council, so contact yours before taking bookings or spending money.
How do I test a hospitality idea before committing fully?
Start small and keep costs flexible. Try a few trial events, a single guest room, or a weekend pop-up, and note bookings, feedback and your true costs. Check your insurance covers trial activity, and confirm any permits first, so you can learn safely.